Charles spiro



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. O. SPIRO.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE Patented lg qar. 3,1891.

i k macaw (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shet 2. 0 SPIRO TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented M- gnaw W06: v -UHAHLEE'| SPIEEL (No Model.)

Q 3 SheetsI-Sheet 3. G. SPIRO. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

. 5 7 am I Qwitw'eooeo:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SEIRO, or NEW YORK, N. v.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.-

SPECIFICATION forming pa'rt of Letters Patent No. 447,438, dated Mareh aism.

Application filed September 14, 188 7- Serial No. 249.684. (No model.)

T0 all'whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES SPIRO, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typeriting Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. v

This invention has relation to type-writing machines of that class in which are employed type-bars and key-levers connected therewith, each bar and lever being adapted to print aesingle character; and among the objects of the invention are to produce a practicable, serviceable, rapid type-writing machine consisting of as few parts as possible, and so constructed asto expose 'the printed work to the view of the operator; to constructand arrange the type-bars so that it will be impossible in the most rapid operation of the to a type-bar to cause an impression to be made from the type thereon.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan (with portions of the front and rear shields and carriage removed) of a type-writing machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section on the line as w of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a detail in perspective of portions of the carriage-suppogting rod and of the slotted lug of the'carriag 'e-lframe. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are details of the pawl mechanism employed in connection with the fecdin g of the carriage. Fig. 15 is a transverse section on the line Y Y of Fig. 2, looking toward the front of the machine. Fig. 7 is a central vertical longitudb nai section on theline Z Z, Fig.'6,illustratii1g thcdcvices employed for giving a step-by- 'ings of the key-levers, in Fig. 2.

step motion to the inking-ribbons. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan of a portion of the carriage and means for adjusting it as to the length of line to be printed- Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the ribbon-spools and a portion of the mechanism for changing the direction of their rotation. showing the paper-holding bail, its sector, and detent-spring. Fig. 11 is a similar View of Fig. 10 is an end view of the carriage,

the carriage, showingthe line-spacing pawl H B represents a key-lever, having a key 15 at one end, and having at the opposite or rear end a pin, bar, or plate 13 projecting slightly above the upper edge of the keyl'ever and terminating in a V-edge, which is arranged t in one of'the grooves A of-the base, whereby a knife-edge bearing is providedfor each of the key-levers. Now by providing two grooves A a closer lateral arrangement of a series of key-levers is possible where, as in this instance,the bearing pin or plate 13 is secured to the side or sides of the bar and projects therefron1,'as shown in end'view,immediately at the right of the knife-edge bear- It is evident that the knife-edge bearing may be an integral projection from the upper edge of the type-bar itself, as shown by dotted lines B Fig. 2. 4 Instead of employing a flatspring for sustaining the key-lever in its upper position, said spring having frictional contact with the under surface of the key-lever, as in the usual construction, I employ a coiled spring 13, connected with the key-lever at its upper-edge, as at B and havingits opposite or upper end connected with a rigid bar B, extending crosswise over and above the base,

in this instance, by means of pins 13, projecting from the bar B", so that it will be seen that the least possible friction exists between the bar, the lever, and the spring, whereby the amount of pressure required to depress a key-lever is reduced to a minimum when the knife-edge bearing and spring are so employed. At the front of the base and extending from side to side thereof is aseries of depending pins or rods A, which serve their common and well-known function as guides for the key-levers. tends under and across the base to cushion the levers.

In the machine as illustrated the key-board comprises capitals and lower-case letters arranged in separate groups-that is, the capitals occupying the upper portion of the keyboard and the lower-case letters the lower portion, the punctuation-marks being with the lower-case letters and the numbers with the capitals. A single key and lever B B serve as the spacer-lever of the machine in a. manner similar to the remainder of the key-levers of the system.

C represents a table supported on the base by brackets or uprights C. The table 0 is formed on a circle the center of which is the printing-point of the machine and has mounted thereon the type-bar bracket C.

()is the front shield, and C*- the rear shield,

Teach of which consists of sheet or other metal,

of a screw 0 (see *Tig, 2,) and is slotted to form ears 0*", between which the type-bars D take hearing by means of trunnions D passing through the ears of the bracket. Each of the type'bars is somewhat like a bellcran'klever, as it is provided between its ends and near its trunnions witha projection I), perforated-fertile reception of aconnecting-rod D which extends from theprojection o.the type-bar to the key-lever, to which it is connected, as at D between the key and the point of pivotal connection of the lieylever with the base of the machine. In other words, instead of extending the type-bar beyond its pivots or trunnions and attaching the connecting-rod at the end of the bar, I con nect the rod to the bar between its ends and arrange its trunnions at the extremity of the bar, and in this manner-secures. practically straight draft from the key-lever to the typebar and produce a downward motion of the free end of the latter, whereby it is adapted to print. upon the .top of the platen and re-- turn to its position of rest, and thus leave exposed to the view of the operator the work accomplished by the machine, thus also obviatingi the necessity of raising the carriage of the machine to inspect the work' and securing the advantageous embodiment of a lever of the second class in a type-writing machine. In this construction I also embody another of the many features, all of which tend to reduce the friction of the parts and the amount of pressure and the extent of a de-L A rubberbumper A ex-' thecarriage.

prcssion of a key required in order to produce an impression, in that the type-bar descends toward the printing-point instead of having to be lifted to it, as in some previous arrangements. In returning to the position of rest the type-bars strike against a cushioning-ring G which is covered with cloth or leathenand supported in any suitable manner upon the table (3.

Each of the type-bars, near its type 1), is provided with a depending lug D which is adapted to pass, at the time an impression is made, between two of a series of pins D projecting upwardly from a plateD arranged near the prmting-point oi the machine, and supported by brackets D, mounted on the base A. These elements are comprised in means for locking the type-bars to secure a perfect alignment of the printed'work and 4 to permit of the use of very thin resilient metal in making the type-bars, and of imperfectthat is, not necessarily accurate bearings for the type-bar trunnions in its bracket; but no claim is herein made for these features, as they constitute the subjecting across the same, there being one of these lugs near each end of the machine, as seen in Fig. 1. By slotting and boring the lugs, the diameter of the bore being greater than that of the slot, it will be seen that the carriage is adapted to reciprocate across the base on the round portion of the bracket or standard, but

cannot be lifted when the lugs are upon the web of thebracket, the lug acting as a hinge by reason "of the walls of the slots co min ginto contact with the solidpertion of the neck of the bracket or standard. In other words, the carriage is not hinged to the bracket or standard. The locking-plate I) over the platen also prevents any upward swing or hinge movement of edge of the carriage (and preferably in line from front to rear with the printing-point o" the machine) is a roller F, supported by a bracket F secured upon the base A. This gives a support always opposite the printingpoint. The bracket orstandard F and roller F providethree points or" support for the carriage, and also permit of its travel across the base.

Gj represents the platen of the machine, which is supported in brackets at the ends of the carriage, from which platen extends a shaft G, by which the platen may be rotated for line-spacing, it being held against ,displacement, as usual, by a ratchet G and a spring-detent (not shown) operating therewith.

E represents a handle extending from one end of thecarriage, which handle is curved,

Directly underneath the front 4 posite handle.

. is provided with a thumb-nut Gr for the purpose of rotating the shaft in either direction, and also with a ratchet G This ratchet is operated by a pawl E mounted on the end of the handle E, and thrown into contact with the ratchet by a spring 'E The pawl E projects beyond the handle and comes into contactwith a cam-shaped elevation E on the carriage. Now'the object and purpose of providingtwo handles to the carriage, one of them carrying a pawl, is that in the act of drawing the carriage from left to right across the machine to begin a new line the pivoted handle may, in'the act of grasping the two, he brought toward the rigid handle, and thus the pawl be carried ofi from the cam E toward and up into contact with the ratchet on the plateushaft, and thus rotate the platen the distance from one line to another.

\Vhenever it is desired to rotate the platen a greater orless distance, an adjusting devicesuch as the thumb screw or latch His mounted on one of the handles in a manner to be brought into the path of the other han die, and thus limit the distance which the pivoted handle is moved when grasping the two to draw the carriage along. In case the latch is used it is swungout, as shown in dotted .lines in the illustration at the side of Fig. 1. I, Fig. 2, represents a pressure-roller employed in connection with the platen to retain the paper in feeding-contact therewith, a spring 1 being arranged at each end of the carriage and provided with suitable bearings, serving to maintain the roller I in a proper relative position with" the platen.

J is a rod or bail under which the leading end of the sheet is passed, so as to retain the papersmoothly on the platen,-which bail is pivoted, as at J, Fig. 10, in the end brackets 'of the carriage and terminates in a notched sector-J held in open and closed position by a spring-detent J I v The carriage is fed from right to left by means'of a spring-barrelK and a cord K extending therefrom to the carriage, the barrel being fixed to the base of the machine below the carriage. The under side of the carriage is provided with a series of pins E",

arranged on a line diagonal to that of the edge of the carriage, and on the base of the machine is a plate L, having slots L, through which screws pass to secure the plate movably on the base. The edge of the plate is serrated to receive a spring-detent Lflwhich The shaft G of the platen 7 serves to retain the plate in an adjusted position. Now it will be seen that by movingthe plate L' toward and under the carriage the upwardly-bent end L thereof maybe brought into the path of any one of the pins E, and thus preventa further movement of the carriageto theright to determine the marginal line at which the printing shall begin.

On the under side of the carriage is fixed a rack-bar M, with which a pawl mechanism arranged beneath the-carriage co-operates a feed the same by releasing'the carriage, so that it may be drawn from right to left by the cord K and spring-barrel K. A bell M is fixed tothe base at its left side, and atriphammer 31 is pivoted near the bell upon the base, so as to be actuated in the well-known manner by a lug (not shown) depending from the carriage forthe purpose of indicatingthe end of-a line in the printed work.

The carriage feed or releasing pawls which I have devised are arranged immediately be-' neath the rack M. A sleeve N, Fig. 3, having a cross bar or arm N at its top, is mounted on the'base by means of a screw N passing through the sleeve and into the base, so that the sleeve is capable of an osc'illatorynwvement around the screw. At one end of the arm N is a pallet, projection, or fixed pawl N and at the other end of the cross-bar N is a pivoted pawl N", which is extended beyond its pivot angularly to'form an arm N Between this 'arm and cross-bar is .a flat spring N", which has a tendency to press the arm N downwardly, and which will yield sufficiently to permit of the pawl N being thrown entirely out of connection with the rack M by means of a releasing-lever 0, (see N whereby the carriage may be moved independently of the pawls in either direction 1 across the machine-When said lever O is depressed at its outer end and brought into con tact with the arm N of the pivoted pawl. Below the pivoted pawl and projecting from the sleeve N is a bracket N upon which is a spring N, which spring hasa tendepcyto lift the arm N and serves to cushion the pivoted pawl when it comes into contact with the rack, and also allows the point of thesaid pivoted pawl to move with the rack the distance of one tooth whenever the fixed pawl N is moved out of contact with the rack. A pin' N projects upwardly from the bracket N into the path of the arm N of the pivoted pawl and. serves to determine the extent of the movement of said arm, the pawl, rack, and carriage. pendicular to the face of the teeth of the rack.

(By face of the teeth of the rack I mean the part between the sides thereof.) A rockarm P extends from a rock-shaft Q upwardly through the base and is bifurcated at its upper end to embrace the rigid cross bar or arm N. The rock-shaft Q is supported in hangers Q depending from the base and has rigidly mounted thereon a bail R, which extends The pivot of the main pawl is per-- underneath the. entire series. of key-levers. This bail is connected byga rod 3 to a coiled spring R and the said spring is connected with a screw R mount-ed upon the-cross-bar B. The object of the screw is to'regulate the tension of the spring and therefore the pressure required to depress anykey-lever of the system. It is noted that each of the springs 13 serve to hold in place the knifeedge bearings. "By connecting the bail as above described with the adjusting device R simplicity of constrnctionrfor adjusting the tension of all the key-levers is secured.

Now it will be noticed that as the spacerlever 'or any lever is depressed it depresses the bail I}, which causes the rock-shaft Q to oscillate and motion is imparted to the rod P, so that the pawl N is caused after an impression is made to move out of contact with the rack-bar M, and the movable pawl N is brought into contact with said rackbar and is cushioned and'allowed'to move the distance of one tooth by the spring N An opposite movement of the rod P brings the pawl N into contact with the next tooth of the rack-bar M, the carriage having moved by reason of the pivotal action of the pawl X that distance, and-throws the pawl N out of contact'with the raek-bar, when its spring NKcauses said pawl to move the distance'of one tooth, so as to-take contact therewith at the next release of the fixed pawl X In this manner a step-by-step movement of the carriage is secured, and is accomplished without the use of pawls which vi brate in the ,same plane in one direction and without any joint vibration, or withoutany Vibration in which both pawls move simultaneously in one direction. My fixed and movable pawls oscillate around a common center, each moving. always in a direction opposite to that of the other.

S represents the inking-ribbon, which is fed from spools S'and carried over the platen and around a bar Sflprojecting at one side and parallel with the platen. This bar may be formed on or secured to the bracket D which supports the locking-plate. The ribbon passes and repasses over the platen at such an angle to expose that portion nearest to the platen for contact of the type therewith. Each of the ribbon-spools is provided with'a miter or other gear T, Fig. 9, and is mounted on a bracket'l", arranged on the base A and between the spools. A screw T is threaded in the-end ot' the shaf t,on which each spool revolves, and a coiled springgfl is arranged on the screw to bearagaiustthe hub S of the spool S, so that a desired tension may be main ained in the inking-ribbon. A long pinion U'is arranged upon a. shaft U, mounted in suitable bearings U projecting upwardly from the base and terminating in a slotted plate U through which a thumbscrew L passes into the base, so that by loosening the said thumb-screw the shaft-and the long pinion maybe reciprocated in the bearings, so as to cause the pinion to mesh with one or the other of the gears T of the ribhon-spools. A ratchet U is mounted on the shaft U, and a jecting from the base against the ratchet, retains the ratchet steady after each movement thereof.' This ratchet is operated by a pawl U pivotally mounted,'as at U on the end of a rock-arm U projecting upwardly from the rock-shaft Q. The pawl U isbifurcated at one end to embrace the ratchet, and is extended beyond its pivot U in theform of a hook U, with which is connected a coiled spring U,one end of which is secured to the arm U By this construction the pawl hasa vertical movement and a lateral movement at its operative or front end, so that it oscillates to rotate the ratchet and moves laterally with spring-detent U Fig. 7, prothe shaft U and the ratchet when the same is reciprocated to bring the long pinion into mesh with either of the gears of the ribbonspools. I

Now it will be seenthat at. the depression of any of the key-levers, the bail, rock-shaft, and rock-arm U are oscillated andmovement is conveyed to the pawl, ratchet, and one of the ribbon-spools, so that the ribbon is moved step by step and is wound upon one of the spools and unwound from the other. Nowby shifting the long pinion the ribbon may be wound upon the companion spool.

In the modified construction and arrangement of the carriage-releasing pawls (see Fig. 1 2) the movable pawl N is pivoted to the rockarm P, as at N, and cushioned by a spring N secured to the rock-arm and projecting beneath the arm The banking-pin N is also mounted on the rock-shaft beneath the arm of the pawl. The fixed pawl N is in this modification pivoted to abrackct N ,iuounted on the base of the machine, and is connected with the rock-arm P by means of a pin orrod P", working in a longitudinal slot l? in the pawl N at a point below its pivot. The operation is the same as in the other construction, in that when the pawl N is in mesh with the rack the pawl N is out of mesh and is forced by the spring N into line with a succeeding tooth ot the rack-bar and meshes therewith on a movement of the rocloarm toward the bar, which movement withdraws the pawl N from the bar.

Having described my invention and its op eration, what I claim is- 1. The combination, with the paper-carriagc and platen of a type-writing machine, of a rack-bar secured to the carriage and two ratchets mounted one on each sideof a vertical pivot for successive oscillation into and out of contact with the bar and one of them piv oted to moveata right angle to the direction of itsioscillat-ion, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the rack-bar of a carriage of a typewriting machine, of two pawls carried by a support, oscillating on a lixed V8li.l('i-.i pivot and each mounted foroscillation simultam' ously in opposite directions ICC and one pivoted for movement substantially lengthwise of the rack-bar, sul'istantially as specified.

1;. The combination, with the, rack-bar of a type-writing machine, of two pawls mounted. for successive oscillation into andzou-t'ofcont of as}idingcplate'mounte lactwith said'bar and one of them piYot-c'dfor movement at substantially a. right angle to the direction of its oscillation, andajrotl pi rot-ally con nectcd with the non-pivoted pawl for producing the oscillation thereoflandoone ncctetl by a bail with the key-levers 0f the lilachine, whereby the depression cf at key-lever operates the pawls, substantially-ass flelfidd.

4.. The combination, with the'rack tiar cf carriage of a type-writinghnachine, of two awls on opposite sides of aif'vfertical rack and extending substantially parallel with said rack and mounted for oscillation simnltaneously in opposite directions, one of said pawls.

being mounted for movement at an angleto the direction of'its oscillatory movemenaand a-stop to limit said annular movement, sub" stantially as specified. 1

'5. The combinatiomwith the rack-bar of a carriage of atype-writing machine, of, two pawls mounted for oscillation sin'iultaneously in opposite directions, one of said pawls be.

iug mounted for a movement at an angle to the direction of its oscillatory movement, and a spring for cushioning the pawl in said angulnr movement, subst-antiall'yas specified.

(3. The combinationy-with the rack-bar era carriage of a type-writing machine, of two pawls mounted for oscillation simultaneously in opposite directions, one of said pawls being, mounted for movement independentlyof its oscillation, and a lever adapted to engage directly said pawl for producing at will said independent movement, substantially as specified.

7. In atypc-tvriting inachine, tlie combina.

tion, with its series of key-levers and reciprocating carriage, of a bail arranged to be operated bythe levers and rigidly secured to a rock-shaft, and an arm rigidly connected with the rock-shaft, and ttvo pawls, one of. which is connected with the arm and bothpivotally supported for simultaneous horizontal movement into and out of contact with a rack-bar secured lengthwise to the carnage of the machine,and a pivotal connection for the pawls one with the other, whereby one is rigid and the other moyablelengthwise of the rack-bar and carriage, substantially as specifled. i

' Sylhe combination; with the carriage of a type-writing machine ,hayinga diagonally- .(lispose'ctishylsuof hins. de ending therefrom, on-afixed part of tlle-macnine adjacent to thecarriage and for movement into'contactwith any-one of the to oscillate, upon snowmen pivot perpendicular to. the. rack"and;termlnatingi'at its upper end in latoral arms. one of whichiistormed with a pawl, and a pawl .pivotallyoen fifectedwith the other arm and having an extension and aspring bearing on'said extension, substantially as shown and, described.

11. The cemb'nationpvith a type-writing machine" inkin'gribbor and its spools and spool-operatinggears, of-a shaft having thereon a pinion ndy-a ratchet and capable of Iongitudinal m mesh with either spool gear, of n pawl pivoted to follow the ratchet in the longitudinal movements thereof {and to ride the teeth of "the, ratchet, substantially as specified.

The combination of the ink ribbon spools-of a type writing machine, and the mechanism for operating the same, anism comprising a ratchet mountdtor r0 tation and. for longit ca l movement with CHARLES SRIBO. Witnesses:

F. FREUDENTHAL, -JULIUS E. LEVY;

pins depending tl 1erefroin, subStant'iallyms-j pe ur-iting machineg-the'combinm ,ndicular to face" oi, the teeth oti'the veli'ienhililiugi theipinign int N.-

said mech-' the shaft upon which itiis mounted, a' pa\fil pivoted to ride the teeth of and follow the of the machine, substantially as specified; 

